Abstract:

When user requests internet search with some keywords, score is calculated
for each site to which keyword is hit according to a predetermined
algorithm and each site is indicated according to the calculated score.
At a predetermined timing the indicated order is shuffled irrespective of
the score. The timing is at request of search or a certain period. The
range of indication order to be shuffled is fixed number, ratio,
variable, and so on.

Claims:

1. A determining method of indication order of search results, whereinwhen
first indication order of site information for each searched and hit site
is decided according to a predetermined rule, and second indication order
of the site information for the each searched and hit site is decided on
the basis of the first indication order of site information,the second
indication order is decided by shuffling indication order which is to be
shuffled, at a predetermined timing and within a determined indication
order range.

2. The determining method according to claim 1, whereinscores which was
finally added to the searched and hit sites, said scores being used for
deciding the first indication order, are calculated by using evaluation
value which is prepared beforehand for each site and distance between
search keyword or key-sentence and contents of each site.

3. The determining method according to claim 1, whereinthe indication
order which is to be shuffled, is the first indication order.

4. The determining method according to claim 1, whereinthe indication
order which is to be shuffled, is such indication order which is result
of the last time shuffle or which is result of the former shuffle.

5. The determining method according to claim 1, whereinthe predetermined
indication order range is decided by number of sites.

6. The determining method according to claim 5, whereinthe number of sites
is counted from high rank or low rank.

7. The determining method according to claim 5, whereinthe number is fixed
or variable according to a certain rule.

8. The determining method according to claim 1, whereinthe predetermined
indication order range is ratio for total number of the searched and hit
sites.

9. The determining method according to claim 8, whereinthe ratio is
counted from high rank or low rank.

10. The determining method according to claim 8, whereinthe ratio is fixed
or variable according to a certain rule.

11. The determining method according to claim 1, whereinthe predetermined
indication order range is decided by utilizing the scores which was
finally added to the searched and hit sites, said scores being used for
deciding the first indication order.

12. The determining method according to claim 2, whereinthe predetermined
indication order range is decided by utilizing the value of the score.

13. The determining method according to claim 11, whereinthe predetermined
indication order range is such certain indication order range where
difference of the score values of the sites belonging to such range falls
within a predetermined size.

14. The determining method according to claim 13, whereinthe predetermined
size is counted from high rank or low rank.

15. The determining method according to claim 13, whereinthe predetermined
size is fixed to a predetermined value width or is variable according to
a certain rule.

16. The determining method according to claim 13, whereinthe predetermined
size is decided on the basis of calculated score values.

17. The determining method according to claim 11, whereinthe predetermined
indication order range is decided by a predetermined value width of the
score.

18. The determining method according to claim 1, whereinthe predetermined
indication order range is all searched and hit sites or a part of the all
searched and hit sites.

19. The determining method according to claim 18, whereinthe part is a
certain sites of high rank.

20. The determining method according to claim 1, whereinthe predetermined
timing is at per user's search request, at a certain period, at random or
at shuffle request of user.

21. The determining method according to claim 1, whereinold the second
indication order is recorded and later the old second indication can be
indicated.

22. The determining method according to claim 1, whereinboundary of
adjacent predetermined indication order ranges is variable according to a
predetermined rule.

23. A determining system of indication order of search results,
comprising;database section recording data of many sites,search section
searching for user's search request by using the database section,
andindication order decide section, wherein the indication order decide
section,when first indication order of site information for each searched
and hit site is decided according to a predetermined rule, and second
indication order of the site information for the each searched and hit
site is decided on the basis of the first indication order of site
information,the second indication order is decided by shuffling
indication order which is to be shuffled, at a predetermined timing and
within a determined indication order range.

24. A program on the recording medium, realizing by the computer, the
determining method of indication order of search results, whereinwhen
first indication order of site information for each searched and hit site
is decided according to a predetermined rule, and second indication order
of the site information for the each searched and hit site is decided on
the basis of the first indication order of site information,the second
indication order is decided by shuffling indication order which is to be
shuffled, at a predetermined timing and within a determined indication
order range.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001]1. Field of the Invention

[0002]The present invention relates to a method to indicate search results
used in internet technology and so on.

[0003]2. Related Art of the Invention

[0004]In the prior art for example, the following method have been almost
used for search method in the internet technology. Firstly evaluation
value for each web site is counted by using a predetermined calculation
rule which is made by service provider. For example evaluation value for
each web site is calculated by using such elements of the number of the
cover links of each site, evaluation valued of the cover links, quality
of the site, frequency of update, design, access number or etc.

[0005]Secondly when a user requests the search with a certain keyword,
distance values are calculated between the keyword and each site. And
score of each site is calculated with the predetermined algorithm by
using the evaluation value of each site and the distance value of each
site. And a plurality of sites are determined as the candidates to be
indicated, by using the score.

[0006]Next order of indication for the candidates of the plurality of
sites is determined according to the score in high order.

[0007]On the display of computer of the user, index of each site is
indicated according to such determined indication order, usually
sequentially from the top, as the search results.

[0008]However according to such conventional indication method of search
results, even though the service provider does large efforts to make
precise, minute score calculation rule, preference or subjectivity of the
service provider is always included in the rule. For example the design
has subjectivity and the number of the cover links can be increased by
special manner of SEO provider and further it can not be said that the
much the number of the cover links is, the better the site is. Further it
can not be said that when the cover link is official, the site is good.
Further it can not be said that when the number of the cover links is
many, the site is good.

[0009]Further in the present world the number of the web site increases
exponentially and therefore it is extremely doubt that such few number of
indicated sites on the first page of the display have precise, important
and search hit rate.

[0010]Then natural language search method has been developed in stead of
using keywords. Or interactive question method was developed. But the
former method is immature yet and the latter is troublesome.

[0011]In the first place the desires of the users are different. One
desire is for knowledge, another is for convenient item. One desire is
for comparison of prices, another is for analysis of physics.

[0012]Therefore there is essentially unreasonableness in the conventional
determining method of the indication order of the search results.

[0013]Then the present invention intends to offer such fair indication
method of the search results that there is no deflection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014]The first aspect of the present invention is a determining method of
indication order of search results, wherein

[0015]when first indication order of site information for each searched
and hit site is decided according to a predetermined rule, and second
indication order of the site information for the each searched and hit
site is decided on the basis of the first indication order of site
information,

[0016]The second indication order is decided by shuffling indication order
which is to be shuffled, at a predetermined timing and within a
determined indication order range.

[0017]The second aspect of the present invention is the determining method
according to the first aspect, wherein

[0018]scores which was finally added to the searched and hit sites, said
scores being used for deciding the first indication order, are calculated
by using evaluation value which is prepared beforehand for each site and
distance between search keyword or key-sentence and contents of each
site.

[0019]For example the evaluation value is calculated from evaluation value
references of quality, design, update frequency, number of cover links,
quality of cover links, number of cover access and is weighted. The
calculation is executed beforehand for web sites as many as can and
results are recorded with entity information of these sites.

[0020]The third aspect of the present invention is the determining method
according to the first aspect, wherein

[0021]the indication order which is to be shuffled, is the first
indication order.

[0022]For example when shuffle is executed, the indication order which is
to be shuffled is such indication order corresponding to score value.

[0023]The fourth aspect of the present invention is the determining method
according to the first aspect, wherein

[0024]the indication order which is to be shuffled, is such indication
order which is result of the last time shuffle or which is result of the
former shuffle.

[0025]The fifth aspect of the present invention is the determining method
according to the first aspect, wherein

[0026]the predetermined indication order range is decided by number of
sites.

[0027]For example the number is every 5.

[0028]The sixth aspect of the present invention is the determining method
according to the fifth aspect, wherein

[0029]the number of sites is counted from high rank or low rank.

[0030]For example the range is decided by counting by ten from the top
against the indication order corresponding to the score value.

[0031]The seventh aspect of the present invention is the determining
method according to the fifth aspect, wherein

[0032]the number is fixed or variable according to a certain rule.

[0033]For example at every shuffle such variation occurs as 10-15-20-10.

[0034]The eighth aspect of the present invention is the determining method
according to the first aspect, wherein

[0035]the predetermined indication order range is ratio for total number
of the searched and hit sites.

[0036]For example when 1000 sites are hit by searching, shuffle is done
within by 10%, namely, 100 sites. And when 100 sites are hit by
searching, shuffle is done within by 10%, namely, 10 sites. Or the ranges
can be 1%, 5%, 10% from upper.

[0037]The ninth aspect of the present invention is the determining method
according to the eighth aspect, wherein

[0038]the ratio is counted from high rank or low rank.

[0039]For example one shuffle is done within 1 to 10 sites from upper and
another shuffle is done within 11 to 20 sites from upper. Or when 100
sites are hit, one shuffle is done within 1 to 10 sites from lowest and
another shuffle is done within 11 to 20 sites from lowest.

[0040]The tenth aspect of the present invention is the determining method
according to the eighth aspect, wherein

[0041]the ratio is fixed or variable according to a certain rule.

[0042]For example 10% is fixed. Or 10% is for first and second shuffles
and it is changed to 20% from third shuffle operation.

[0043]The 11th aspect of the present invention is the determining method
according to the first aspect, wherein

[0044]the predetermined indication order range is decided by utilizing the
scores which was finally added to the searched and hit sites, said scores
being used for deciding the first indication order.

[0045]The 12th aspect of the present invention is the determining method
according to the second aspect, wherein

[0046]the predetermined indication order range is decided by utilizing the
value of the score.

[0047]The 13th aspect of the present invention is the determining method
according to the 11th aspect or 12th aspect, wherein

[0048]the predetermined indication order range is such certain indication
order range where difference of the score values of the sites belonging
to such range falls within a predetermined size.

[0049]For example shuffle is done for such sites that have score value
difference within 3 points. This is because it is meaningless to
distinguishing them having 3 points or less difference with respect to
the indication order. On the contrary among such sites having 4 points or
more shuffle is not done.

[0050]The 14th aspect of the present invention is the determining method
according to the 13th aspect, wherein

[0051]the predetermined size is counted from high rank or low rank.

[0052]For example when the most upper site has 100 points, the 3 points
difference is counted from 100 points and then such range having 100 to
97 points is shuffled.

[0053]The 15th aspect of the present invention is the determining method
according to the 13th aspect, wherein

[0054]the predetermined size is fixed to a predetermined value width or is
variable according to a certain rule.

[0055]For example the 3 points is fixed or 3 is changed to 5 from third
shuffle.

[0056]The 16th aspect of the present invention is the d Determining method
according to the 13th aspect, wherein

[0057]the predetermined size is decided on the basis of calculated score
values.

[0058]For example against such sites group having lower score value, the
size becomes smaller because it is better that shuffle is hard to come to
occur for such group.

[0059]The 17th aspect of the present invention is the determining method
according to the 11th or 12th aspect, wherein

[0060]the predetermined indication order range is decided by a
predetermined value width of the score.

[0061]For example when 1000 point is upper limit, 1000 points are divided
by 5 points from upper limit, and shuffle is done every each block of 5
points.

[0062]The 18th aspect of the present invention is the determining method
according to the first aspect, wherein

[0063]the predetermined indication order range is all searched and hit
sites or a part of the all searched and hit sites.

[0064]For example when the number of hit sites is 3000, shuffle is done
only for the 100 sites from upper limit.

[0065]The 19th aspect of the present invention is the determining method
according to the 18th aspect, wherein

[0066]the part is a certain sites of high rank.

[0067]The 20th aspect of the present invention is the determining method
according to the first aspect, wherein

[0068]the predetermined timing is at per user's search request, at a
certain period, at random or at shuffle request of user.

[0069]For example shuffle is done at user's request of search. Or it is
done every 3 days. Or it is done at random by using random number. Or it
is done when user request shuffle. Or the timing is variable according to
bigness of the number of access.

[0070]For example shuffle is done at user's request of search. Or it is
done every 3 days. Or it is done at random by using random number. Or it
is done when user request shuffle. Or the timing is variable according to
bigness of the number of access.

[0071]The 21th aspect of the present invention is the determining method
according to the first aspect, wherein

[0072]old the second indication order is recorded and later the old second
indication can be indicated.

[0073]For example under such shuffle operation there is such case that
after the user look the indication order of site information, the user
wishes to look the old indication order of site information. For such
case old indication order of site information is recorded, and old
indication order of site information can be reappears. Such function can
be realized on the user side computer or can be on the search provider
system.

[0074]The 22th aspect of the present invention is the determining method
according to the first aspect, wherein

[0075]boundary of adjacent predetermined indication order ranges is
variable according to a predetermined rule.

[0076]For example the range is decided by number or ration etc. further
boundary of each block within which the shuffle is done, can be variable
to realize smaller deflection.

[0077]The 23th aspect of the present invention is the determining system
of indication order of search results, comprising;

[0078]database section recording data of many sites,

[0079]search section searching for user's search request by using the
database section, and

[0080]indication order decide section, where

[0081]in the indication order decide section,

[0082]when first indication order of site information for each searched
and hit site is decided according to a predetermined rule, and second
indication order of the site information for the each searched and hit
site is decided on the basis of the first indication order of site
information,

[0083]the second indication order is decided by shuffling indication order
which is to be shuffled, at a predetermined timing and within a
determined indication order range.

[0084]The 24th aspect of the present invention is the program on the
recording medium, realizing by the computer, the determining method of
indication order of search results, wherein

[0085]when first indication order of site information for each searched
and hit site is decided according to a predetermined rule, and second
indication order of the site information for the each searched and hit
site is decided on the basis of the first indication order of site
information,

[0086]the second indication order is decided by shuffling indication order
which is to be shuffled, at a predetermined timing and within a
determined indication order range.

[0087]The present invention is for example such that when user requests
internet search with some keywords, score is calculated for each site to
which keyword is hit according to a predetermined algorithm and each site
is indicated according to the calculated score. At a predetermined timing
the indicated order is shuffled irrespective of the score. The timing is
at request of search or a certain period. The range of indication order
to be shuffled is fixed number, ratio, variable, and so on.

[0088]According to the present invention search results can be indicated
fairly with no deflection.

[0090]The meaning of shuffle of the present invention is not limited to
perfect random exchange but sequential move back or sequential move
forward or any exchange or any variation.

[0091]Database making section 6 makes a database section 1 for each site
A, B, C, D, - - - by crawl. Evaluation value of each site is added to the
database by predetermined algorithm calculation. For example a number of
cover links, number of access, quality etc. are used for the calculation.
User input keyword or key-sentence to be searched by using keyword input
section 2 of user's computer.

[0092]Search section 3 searches site which is suitable for the keyword
from the database section 1. Distance between the keyword and each site
is calculated according to predetermined algorithm. For example when the
keywords are plural and all keywords appear in sentences of the site, the
calculated distance is made short. Further the search section 3
calculates score of each site on the basis of the distance and the
evaluation value of the site according to predetermined rule (algorithm).
In addition the score can be calculated by using other elements of each
site also.

[0093]The indication order decide section 4 decides the order of
indication (first indication order) according to the score of each site.
Usually in the first indication order, high score site is indicated at
upper position. Further the indication order decide section 4 decides as
below the second indication order which is to be displayed on the display
5 of the computer of user, as the search results, on the basis of the
decided first indication order. The display 5 presents entity information
of site as the results of search on the display 5 according to the second
indication order.

[0094]The second indication order is decided by shuffle. That is
indication order decide section 4 shuffles the order of the indication of
each site when other user requests search or same user requests search at
different time. Or the shuffle can be done at random or three days
interval. The shuffle can be done at any trigger. The shuffle is executed
irrespective of the score. That is even if the score of each site are not
changed, the shuffle is executed.

[0095]The manner of the shuffle is mentioned below.

Manner of shuffle

[0096]Within certain range (area, number) of the indicated sites, shuffle
is done ignoring the big or small of the score. Or with perfect random.
Or with moving sites back sequentially (the last moves to the top). Or
with moving sites forwards sequentially (the top moves to the last). In
short, within certain range the indication order becomes not
corresponding to the big or small of the score by the shuffle even though
in all even though in some.

Deciding Manner of Shuffle Range

[0097]a. As FIG. 2 the shuffle range is determined according to the score.
For example such sites falls within range of 100 points to 96 points are
shuffled when the 100 points is upper limit. For sites of the range of 96
points to 91 similar shuffle is done. The size of the respective range
can be same (100-96 and 95-91) but can be different (100-96 and 95-89).
Or the size of the range can be varied in terms of time. Or the shuffle
can be done among such sites having score within 3 points difference.
That is because small score difference has no significance in order to
decide indication order for the user

[0098]b. As FIG. 3 the range can be determined according to fixed number
(example per 5, or 10-20-30). For example per 5 from upper. Further the
number can be changed in terms of time. Or it can be done that many sites
which is under a predetermined score or order are not shuffled.

[0099]c. ratio can be used (ex. per 10%, or 10%-20%-30%) For example for
searched hit all sites divided per 10% and within the divided block
shuffle is done. Or upper block is 1%, next block is 5% and so on can be
done. That is the size of % cam be changed.

[0100]d. the site range to be shuffle can be searched hit all sites or can
be a part of searched hit all sites. For example when hit sites are 3000,
the upper 100 sites are only shuffled but the remaining sites are not
shuffled.

Selection of the Indication Order which is to be Shuffled

[0101]In the FIG. 3 when shuffle is being done, the indication order to be
shuffled is such indication order which is corresponding to the score
value. That is the indication order to be shuffled at the t1-1 timing is
the indication order which is corresponding to the score value and the
indication order to be shuffled at the t1-2 timing is also the indication
order which is corresponding to the score value.

[0102]Or as FIG. 4 when shuffle is being done, the indication order to be
shuffled is such indication order which is the order of result of just
before shuffle (the last time shuffle). This is not limited the order of
result of just before shuffle but past shuffle can be used when shuffle
is done many times.

Changing of Boundary of Range to be Shuffled

[0103]The boundary between respective range of sites to be shuffled can be
changed. The range is decided by site number or ratio but the boundary
can be changed in terms of time, thereby making the deflection less.

[0104]For example as FIG. 5, the bock boundary can be changed per at
t2,t3,t4. At timing t2 the boundary is changed as the figure. In the FIG.
5 one end is moved. Thus the indication order becomes fairer.

[0105]The timing of the boundary change can be related to the access
number which becomes more than 100, or certain period, or with random.

Timing of Shuffle

[0106]The timing of shuffle is per the search access from user, or per
certain period (for example when access number is many the certain period
can be short), or at random. Or the shuffle can be executed by user's
instruction.

[0107]Now there is such case that scores of some sites becomes same. Even
though for such case, the some sites should be indicated under such order
according to for example, alphabet order. But such alphabet order can be
considered as calculated on the basis of score by predetermined
algorithm. That is "score" means such broad meaning including such score
which is amended by the alphabet order that can not be considered usually
as score value. In other words the site having upper rank with respect to
the alphabet order is given with higher score value than the site having
lower rank with respect to the alphabet order even though the calculated
scores are same. In brief such alphabet order point which is used for
determining the indication order can be considered as "score". For
example when as a result of calculation A site is 88, B site is 87, C
site is 87, and D site is 86, the indication order is A>B>C>D
from upper considering the alphabet order between B and C. Under such
case it can be that the B site has bigger score than C site.

[0108]Then that scores which was finally added to the searched and hit
sites, is used for deciding the first indication order, means that the
first indication order is decided according to the predetermined rule of
the present invention.

[0109]Shuffle means such case that at least a part of the decided
indication order is shuffled, that is a part of score is reflected to the
indication order but another part of score is not reflected to the
indication order.

[0110]Further, the program according to the present invention may be a
program which operates in co-operation with a computer and makes the
computer execute the functions of all or some sections of the system
according to the present invention described above.

[0111]Moreover, the present invention may be a medium which can be read on
a computer, stores a program, makes a computer execute all or some
functions of all or some sections of system according to the present
invention described above, and allows the program to operate in
co-operation with the computer and execute these functions.

[0112]The present invention also covers a recording medium which stores
the program according to the present invention and which can be read on a
computer.

[0113]In one example of use, the program according to the present
invention may be recorded in a recording medium which can be read on a
computer so that the program operates in co-operation with the computer.

[0114]In one example of use, the program according to the present
invention may be transmitted through a transmission medium and read by a
computer so that the program operates in co-operation with the computer.

[0115]The recording medium includes a ROM, etc., whereas the transmission
medium includes a transmission medium such as the Internet, light, an
electric wave, a sound wave, etc.

[0116]As described above, the computer referred to in the present
invention is not limited pure hardware such as a CPU but may include
firmware, OS, and further, peripheral equipment.

[0117]As described above, the structure according to the present invention
may be realized by software or hardware.

INDUSTRIAL UTILITY

[0118]The present invention is fair method to indicate search results and
is useful in the internet search field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0119]FIG. 1 shows the construction of the search indication apparatus in
the embodiment 1 of the present invention.